Background
Brodie was born in 1811 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, as the sixth of twelve children. His mother was Anna Brodie (1779–1864), the daughter of The Times founder John Walter. His father was Revd Doctor Alexander Brodie Doctor of Divinity (1773–1828).
His parents had married in 1802, and his father had become the Reverend at Street Mary"s, Eastbourne, in 1809.
His grandfather died in 1812, the year after Brodie was born, and his mother inherited 2/16ths of the shares in The Times. The same proportion went to her sister Mary Carden.
Career
His father died in 1828. Brodie emigrated to the colony in the early 1840s. He returned to England in 1844 and published a book on his experience of New Zealand colonial life titled Remarks on the Past and Present State of New Zealand.
Brodie returned to New Zealand.
In 1851, he imported English pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and released them near Mongonui. At around the same time, Thomas Henderson imported Chinese pheasants (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) and released them on his property on his property, now known as the Auckland suburb of Henderson.
Pheasants became common game birds in the North Island. Brodie also imported sparrows into New Zealand.
He represented the Suburbs of Auckland electorate in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament, but resigned before the end of his term on 6 December 1859.
He did not serve in any subsequent Parliaments. He also participated in Auckland provincial politics, representing the Suburbs of Auckland electorate in 1855–1857. Brodie visited Auckland again in December 1878.
He died in 1884.
